Thursday, January 12, 2012

The draft ICT PSP Work Programme 2012 published

The CIP ICT Committee has recently approved the draft ICT PSP Work Programme 2012. The ICT PSP supports the realisation of European policies and in particular the Digital agenda for Europe and is aligned with its priorities.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

18 new Project Angels successfully trained in FP7 ICT programme and EU funding mechanisms

18 Project Angels from Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Bolivia have just received the Project Angels Diploma for their success in the last on-line Project Angels coaching course.

The “Project Angels” network in Latin America is a distinctive contribution of the PRO-IDEAL and the PRO-IDEAL PLUS project that set up a mechanism to train experts (“Angels”) in the understanding of the ICT programme and EU funding rules, thus being able to help potential partners from their countries to become part of a cooperation project. It is an innovative approach to create a sustainable network in the target countries that can provide their acquired special knowledge to potential project partners in their respective countries, and that eventually, will effectively promote the ICT cooperation between the EU and Latin America.

Following the coaching courses and awareness raising events held in the PRO-IDEAL and PRO-IDEAL PLUS target countries – Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica and Cuba – More than 100 candidates to Project Angels have been recruited and coached so as to attain the “Project Angel” certification. After 3 coaching course editions, the network counts now with more than 45 active Project Angels in Latin America.

Future of the Project Angels

The Project Angels coaching courses where part of the Pro-Ideal and Pro-Ideal Plus projects funded by teh EU FP7 ICT programem and which are now going to the end. However, in order to keep the network and continue the collaboration between Latin America and Europe in the ICT R&D field, new initiatives and activities will be offered from 2012 onwards: Project Angels Summer Schools will be organized within a new project “AMERICAS”, Some Project Angels courses will be continued in several Latin American countries (Run by project partners and/or public institutions), a monthly SKYPE call on Q&A will be offered to the active Project Angels from January 2012 onwards and some Project Angels will be invited to join the external advisors network of EMF.

Consult the list of active Project Angels
For more information please contact us

Horizon 2020, the new EU programme for research and innovation

The European Commission published yesterday its Communication on Horizon 2020, the new R&I Framework Programme. It is fully in line with the EU's policy strategies like the Innovation Union or the Digital Agenda. A SME focus is one of the most important new elements.

With regard to International Cooperation, the Communication emphasises the promotion of internationall mobility of researchers and innovation staff. The focus of international cooperation in Horizon 2020 will be on cooperation with three major country groupings:

(1) industrialised and emerging economies;
(2) enlargement and neighbourhood countries; and
(3) developing countries.

Horizon 2020 will continue with the principle of general openness, while encouraging reciprocal access to third country programmes.

For more information:
Read the Communication
Visit the website

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Launch of the Joint Declaration to strengthen EU-LA cooperation

The Joint Declaration to strengthen EU-LA cooperation was launched yesterday at the “Fostering EU-Latin America ICT Policy Dialogue” event in Brussels in front of 120+ stakeholders from Latin America and the EU.

The ambitious programme gave an overview of EU-LA initiatives and showcased the steady development of the S&T relations of both regions. Pro-Ideal presented the network of Project Angels of the Pro-Ideal Plus project. The event closed its first day of work with a discussion on collaboration priorities and instruments that will be part of the Joint Declaration.

Today, in the afternoon, the Joint Declaration will be presented to the Members of the European Parliament in Brussels.

The Joint Declaration is based on the results of studies, activities, meetings and discussion brought forward by stakeholders partnered in a number of project initiatives and follows the identification of common challenges, synergies and future opportunities in EU-LAC cooperation in the field of ICT.

The Joint Declaration is an evolving document and all stakeholders active in ICT international cooperation for R&D+i between Europe and Latin America are invited to support and/or give their contributions based on their specific experience and interest.

Support and/or give your contribution to the Declaration


More information

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Fostering EU-Latin America ICT policy dialogue

Organized by the FORESTA project funded under the EU’s 7Th Framework Programme to support R&D cooperation between Latin America and Europe in the field of ICT, the conference ‘Fostering EU-Latin America ICT Policy Dialogue’ will take place in Brussels, Belgium, on Monday and Tuesday 28 and 29 November 2011. The event will be an important forum for European and Latin-American research stakeholders to discuss strategies to intensify cooperation in Information and Communication Technologies. It bring together stakeholders from ICT research, industry and industry federations, decision-makers, European and Latin-American research and innovation funding agencies, as well as SMEs and large companies from each region interested in cooperation with Latin America and with Europe.
‘Fostering EU-Latin America ICT Policy Dialogue’ event will use panels and round tables to elicit the insights of invited experts and inputs from the audience in order to develop strategic recommendations in support of a reinforced EU-LA ICT cooperation. The recommendations will be streamlined into a Joint Declaration that will be presented to representatives of the European Commission, the European Parliament and Latin-American governments in the closing session of the event to be held at the European Parliament.

Pro-Ideal and Pro-Ideal Plus partners will also actively participate at the event

More information